Rolling mill for tapered disks



March 11; 1930. MARTlN I 1,150,480

ROLLING MILL FOR TAPERED DISKS I Filed Oct. 13, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN ENTOR March 11, 1930. MARTIN 1,750,480

ROLLING MILL FOR TAPERED DISKS Filed Oct. 13, 1921 3'Sheets-Sheet '2 cur/ 344 aunt- 4 March 11, 1930. lN 1,750,480

* V ROLLING MILL FOR TAPERED DISKS Filed Oct. 15. 1921 s shets-sheet 5 Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT; OFFICE ARTHUR MARTIN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 BUDD WHEEL COM.-

PANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ROLLING MILL FOR TAPERED DISKS Application filed October 13, 1921. Serial No. 507,444.

My invention relates to the manufacture of tapered disks of metal for automobile wheels and for other purposes.

One object of my invention is to provide a rolling mill for tapered disks which shall be simple and rugged in construction and which shall operate in a positive and accurate manner to enlarge a circular blank and impart the desired taper thereto.

Another object of my invention is to pro-' vide improved means for feeding blanks to the rolls in a mill of the character indicated, and for holding the blanks in position to be acted upon by the rolls. This feeding device is also capable of use in connection with other forms of metal-working machines.

My improved rolling mill consists, in general, of two frusto-conical rolls which are preferably mounted with their axes in a vertical plane with theirlines of contact with the work diverging at an angle corresponding to the angle of taper to be imparted to the disks. These rolls have a taper which is developed, in accordance with the dimensions of the disks to be rolled, in such a manner that every point on the working faces of the rolls has a rolling contact with the work without slippage, as will be more fully described below.

For feeding the blanks to the rolls, and for holding the blanks during the rolling operation, I provide a novel feeding device in the nature of a wheel having a plurality of devices for supporting and gripping the blanks, the wheel being rotated in a step-by-step man ner to present the blanks in succession to the rolls and to hold each blank rotatably during the rolling operation. This feed wheel is mounted for rotation on an axis which is preferably located above the rolls and coincident with the plane which includes the axes of the rolls.

In addition to these general features, my invention includes numerous novel constructions which are described below in detail, and

which contribute to the proper operation of the machine, it being understood, however, that the structural details herein shown and described may be varied in many respects without departing from my invention.

The manner in which I now prefer to construct my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, showing the complete machine; Fig. 2 is an end elevational view taken from the right of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken centrally through one of the rolls and its bearings; Fig. at is a cross section on the line l-4l, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55', Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the development of a disk from a circular blank to the finished form; Fig. 7 is a central sectional view through a finished disk, showing the relation between the disk and the blank from which it is rolled; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View through a set of modified rolls, showing the application at lmy invention to the rolling of formed is (s.

In the drawing, the numeral 2 indicates a frame which may be supported by means of flanges 3 on stationary supports 4. Two cooperating rolls 5, of the frusto-conical form shown in Fig. 1, are mounted with their working lines diverging according to the taper of the finished disks D which are shown on Fig. 1 in position between the rolls. The rolls 5- are mounted on the upper ends of two inclined shafts 6 which are disposed with their axes in a common vertical plane and which are mounted in such a way that both of the shafts 6 may be rocked pivotally through a small angle to move the rolls 5 toward or away from each other. One of the shafts 6 is adapted to be secured in its adjusted angular position, while the other shaft 6 is fed toward the fixed shaft during the rolling operation, thereby bringing the rolls 5 closer together as the reduction of the blank proceeds.

The bearings in which the shafts 6 are mounted are best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 shows an elongated bearing block 7 carrying two bearings 8 which may be of ordinary construction and which receive the shaft 6 near its ends. Between the bearings 8 the bearing block 7 .carries a roller thrust bearing 9 which takes up the end thrust of the shaft 6. The bearing block 7 rests flat against the finished vertical surface of the frame 2, and each of the bearing blocks 7 is provided with a boss 11 extending into a circular opening 12 in the frame and forming a pivot around which the bearing 7 and the shaft 6 may be rocked. The bearings 8 at the lower ends of the shafts 6 are provided with caps 13 which are secured to the flat surface 10 of the frame by means of bolts 14. The mill bearings 8 at the upper ends of the shafts 6 are provided with a double cap 15 of the angular form shown on Fig. 1 which extends across both of the shafts 6 and is secured to the fiat surface 10 by means of bolts 16. In order to permit the rocking movement of the shafts 6 already mentioned, the bearings 8 are arranged to move beneath the caps 13 and 15, and for this purpose the bolts 14 and 16 which secure the caps 13 and 15 in place extend through openings 17 in the bearings 8, which are somewhat larger than the bolts, as shown on Fig. 4.

The bolts 16 adjacent to the roll which is moved during the rolling operation may be surrounded by tubular spacers, in order to relieve the upper bearing of this roll and permit the roll to move without binding; or the cap 15 may be slightly thinner above the movable roll than above the fixed roll. In either case, the cap 15 is loosened when the machine is being prepared for use, the fixed roll is adjusted to its proper position, and the cap 15 is again tightened. thus fastening the fixed roll tightly and permitting the movable roll to rock during the rolling operation.

The shafts 6 may be driven in any suitable manner. As shown on the drawing, a bevel gear wheel 20 is secured to the lower end of each of the shafts 6 and meshes with a bevel gear wheel 21. Both of the gears 21 are mounted on a driving shaft 22 which runs in bearings 23 in the frame 2, the shaft 22 being connected to any suitable source of power, not shown.

The rolls 5 are attached to the upper ends of the shafts 6 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a squared shoulder 24, Fig. 5, and with a conical end portion 25. The roll 5 is made hollow and is provided with a squared scat fitting over the shoulder 24, and with a tapering bored seat 26 fitting closely against the conical end portion 25 of the shaft 6. For the purpose of removably attaching the roll. 5 to the shaft 6, a bolt rod 27 extends through a central lengthwise opening in the shaft 6, and through a similar opening in the end of the roll 5. The bolt rod 27 has a head 28 fitting in a recess formed in the roll 5, and the opposite end of the rod 27 is threaded to receive nuts 29. A spring 30 may be confined between the lower end of the shaft 6, and a washer 31 adjacent to the nuts 29, in order to take up any shown on Fig. 1. In this figure the right-hand roll 5 is fixed during the rolling operation, and the left-hand roll 5 is movable. The upper bearing 8 of this left-hand movable roll is provided with an extension 35 having a recess which contains a hardened block 36 having a depression for engagement with the end of a feed screw 37 which is mounted in suitable bearings 38 carried by the frame 2, one of the bearings 38 being threaded to engage the screw 37. A worm-wheel 39 surrounds the squared upper end of the feed screw 37 and is driven by a worm 40 carried by a shaft 41 which also carries a spur gear 42 driven by a pinion 43 on the armature shaft of an electric motor 44. When the motor 44 is started, it operates through the gearing just described to advance the feed screw 37 which rocks the left-hand shaft 6 around its pivot 11 and brings the rolls 5 closer together. It will of course be understood that this feeding movement is slow and of small extent, the linear movement of the roll 5 being only about a quarter of an inch during the rolling of disks of ordinary size.

Above the rolls 2 is a rotary work-feeding device which is an important part of my invention. This feeding device is in the nature of a wheel having a hub provided with an extension 51 to which is secured a worm wheel 52 driven by a worm 53 which is keyed to a shaft 54 that also carries a spur gear 55 meshing with a pinion 56 on the armature shaft of an electric motor 57. This motor is preferably avariable-speed motor having a hand switch, suitably of the push-button type, by means of which the motor 57 may be started and stopped at intervals to rotate the feed wheel in a step-by-step manner and at controllable speed.

A shaft 58 extends through and supports the hub 50 and the extension 51 of the feed wheel, and is supported at its outer end in a bearing 59 carried by a standard 60. The hub extension 51 of the feed wheel is su ported in a bearing 61 carried by a standard 62. The standards and 62 are supported on the frame 2, suitable filler plates 63 and keys 64 being provided to secure the standards 60 and 62 at the proper height on the frame 2. The axis of the shaft 58 is preferably coincident with the vertical plane which includes the axes of the rolls 5.

The feed wheel comprises a vertical plate 65 having a series of work supports of which four are shown on the accompanying drawing. It will be understood, however, that any convenient number of these supports may be employed, depending on the size of the disks to be rolled and upon the size of the feed wheel.

Each of the four'work supports, as shown, comprises a mandrel 66 which may be round or square, as desired, and which is intended to fit in the central opening of the blanks to be rolled. Each of the mandrels 66, as shown on Fig. 1, is rotatably mounted in a bearing 67 carried by the plate 65, the bearings 67 being strengthened by means of webs 68 extending between the bearings and the hub 50. Each of the mandrels 66 is provided with a reduced end portion 69 which extends through a ball thrust bearing 70 and beyond the bearing 67, where it -is threaded to receive a nut 71. Roller bearings may, if desired, be provided at the sides of the mandrels 66 within the bearings 67, but as such roller bearings may be omitted they are not shown on the drawing.

Cooperating with each of the mandrels 66 is a clamping arm 72 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 73 extending between parallel flanges 74 carried by the plate 65. Each of the arms 72 carries at its outer end a head 76 having a recess in which is received a rotatable socket member 77 having a socket 78 97 which receives the outer end of the adjacent mandrel 66. The socket member 77 has a reduced portion 79 which extends through a ball thrust bearing 80 and which is threaded to receive a nut 81.

Each of the arms 72 is provided near its pivot 73 with a thrust block which is engaged by a sliding pin 86 extending loosely through a bearing 87 carried by the web 68. A circular cam 88 is secured-to the standard 62 and is so shaped that when the arm 72 is in its lower position the pin 86 permits the clamping arm to come into gripping contact with the blank D, while when the gripping arm passes beyond the rolling position the cam 88 forces the pin 86 through its bearing 87 to swing the arm 82 away from the blank I), which position it retains while the gripping arm is passed through its upper position, as shown on Fig. 1. Each of the arms 72 may be provided with a projection 89 which limits the outward rocking movement of the arm 72 by engaging the shaft 58. a

For the purpose of preventing lateral yielding movements of the feeding device during the rolling operation I provide means adjacent to the rolling position for engaging and holding the wheel and the gripper arm. A short curved track piece 90 is secured to the standard 62 and is engaged by the outer curved end of a fixed pin 91 earned by each of the bearing heads 67 which support the mandrels 66. This engagement between the pin 91 and the track 90 prevents the feed wheel from yielding to the left under the thrust of the rolling operation. In order to prevent the feed wheel and gripping arm from yielding to the right, I provide a curved track section 92 which is supported on the ends of a series of three plungers 93 which Each of the heads 76 carried by the clamping arms 72 is provided with lugs 99 between which extends a pin 100 carrying a roller 101 which is adapted to run upon the track section 92 when the clamping arm is at the rolling position, and this engagement between the roller 101 and the track 92 prevents substantial lateral movement of the feed wheel to the right. The resilient mounting of the track 92 prevents breakage of the parts which might occur under severe strains. This resilient effect may evidently be produced by hydraulic or pneumatic means instead of by the springs In order to guide the clamping arms 72 throughout their circular movement with the feed wheel, I may provide each of the heads 76 with a projection 102 carrying a grooved roller 103 engaging a circular cam-track 104 which, as shown, consists of a circular Z-bar bolted to a circular frame 105. The cam-track 104 and the frame 105 are bent, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide for the movement of the clamping arms toward and away from the work-holding mandrels. The track 104; may be interrupted between the ends of the track section 92, as the clamping arm is fully controlled at this point by means of the track section 92 in cooperation with the roller 101.

-In the operation of the machine described above, the circular blanks D are preferably delivered from a suitable furnace, not shown, upon a guideway 106 indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, and provided with a yielding st'op 107. When one of the mandrels 66 arrives at the horizontal position adjacent to the stop 107, a workman places the blank D upon the mandrel 66. At the same time the preceding blank is being rolled, and when the rolling operation is finished the workman starts the motor 57, and so gives the feedwheel a quarter turn, which brings the blank D into position between the rolls. At the same time the motor 44 has been started in the proper direction to withdraw the feed screw 37. This permits the blank D to enter between the rolls, the movable roll bein pushed aside by the entering blank. When the blank reaches the rolling position, the workman stops the motor 57 and starts the motor 44: to advance the feed screw. Meanwhile, the rolls 5 are rotating continuously. When the reduction of the metal is completed the work- .man again starts the motor 57 and reverses Gil the motor 44. The finished disk passes from 'the rolling position to the horizontal position opposite to the loading point, and the clamping arm 72 is operated by the pin 86 or by the cam-track104, or by both of these mechanisms, so as to release the disk by the time it reaches this position. The disk is then removed from its mandrel, either manually or by any desired mechanical means, which may readily be arranged. The worm drive which rotates the feed wheel also serves to lock the feed wheel against backward movement while in the rolling position.

It is desirable to roll two blanks at the same time, and this machine is well adapted for such operation, two blanks being placed upon each mandrel 66 at each operation, and the inclination of the rolls 5 being suitably adjusted to impart the required taper to the blanks.

As stated above, the working faces of the rolls 5 are not only inclined angularly at the angle to be imparted to the blanks, but are so designed as to have constant rolling contact with the blank Without slippage. The manner in which the rolls are proportioned for this purpose is indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 which show by way of example the relative diameter of a blank D and a finished disk D. The blank is composed of two sections, the inner section marked A on Fig. 7, which is not affected by the rolling operation, and the outer or tapered section a whichis operated upon by the rolls. The rolls 5 are so designed that the diameter of their small upper ends bears to the diameter of the un-rolled portion A of the blank the same ratio as the large or bottom diameter of the rolls bears to the total diameter C of the finished disk. This ratio gives the rolls a true rolling contact with the blank at all times, because as the diameter of the blank increases the circumference of course increases in the same proportion, so that the radial angle on the blank remains constant for a given time interval.

The rolls 5 are preferably mounted on axes which are in a vertical plane, as this arrangement permits the scale detached from the blank during the rolling operation to fall down away from the rolls instead of being rolled into the blank, as would be the case if the axes of the rolls were horizontal. However, if this advantage is not desired, the rolls may be made horizontal or may even be inverted, the remaining parts of the machine being changed accordingly.

The machine described above may be used not only for rolling disks of uniform taper, but for rolling formed disks, one example of this use being illustrated in Fig. 8, which shows two rolls 5 which are shaped to impart the desired dished form or other shape to the blanks 5. \Vhen rolling formed disks in this manner, the blanks are entered one at shown and described may be varied in numerous respects without departing from my invention, and I therefore desire that no limitations be imposed on my invention except such as are indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A mill for rolling tapered disks comprising two cooperating and conically tapered rolls mounted with their lines of contact with the work converging toward the larger ends of said rolls at the angle of taper to be imparted to the disks, the taper of the said rolls being so proportioned withv respect to the diameters of the disks to be rolled that the said rolls are in rolling contact with the work without substantial slippage throughout the rolling operation.

2. A mill for rolling tapered disks comprising two cooperating and conically ta pered rolls for reducing the thickness and increasing the diameter of circular blanks, the ratio between the small diameter of each roll and the central or unrolled portion of a blank being equal to the ratio between the larger diameter of each roll and the total diameter of the finished disk, whereby the said rolls are constantly in rolling contact with the work without substantial slippage.

3. In a mill for rolling tapered disks, the combination with two cooperating and conically tapered rolls mounted with their lines of contact with the work converging toward the larger ends of said rolls at the angle of taper to be imparted to the disks of a work supporting mandrel having its axis passing through the intersection of the axes of the said conically tapered rolls, the taper of the said rolls being so proportioned that their diameters at any disk engaging point bear a constant relation to the normal distance of these points from the axis of said mandrel.

4. A mill for rolling tapered disks comprising two cooperating and conically tapered rolls having their lines of contact with the work converging toward their larger ends, means for adjusting the relative positions of said rolls, and means for feeding one of said rolls toward the other during the rolling operation.

5. A mill for rolling tapered disks comprising two cooperating and conically tapered rolls, shafts supporting the said rolls, bearings for supporting said shafts with their and means for imparting a feeding movement to the other bearing block during the rolling operation.

6. A mill for rolling disks over the greater part of their area comprising two co-operating and conically tapered rolls, and means for feeding blanks to the said rolls, the said feeding means comprising a rotatable wheel, a plurality of blank-holdin means carried by said wheel, and means for imparting a step-by-step rotation to said wheel.

7 A feeding device for metal-working machines comprising a rotatably mounted wheel, a plurality of blank-holding mandrels carried by said wheel, clamping members movably associated with the said mandrels for securing blanks thereto, means for automatically moving the said clamping members into clamping position while the said mandrels are approaching the working position, means for moving the said clamping members from the said mandrels after the working operation is completed, and means for imparting a step-by-step rotation to the said wheel.

8. A feeding device for metal-working machines comprising a rotatably mounted wheel, a plurality of blank-holding mandrels rotatably carried by said wheel, clamps co-operating with the said mandrels to secure blanks thereon, means for automatically opening and closing said clamps, and means for preventing the said mandrels from moving lengthwise while in the working position.

9. A feeding device for metal-working machines comprising a rotatably mounted wheel, a plurality of blank-holding mandrels carried by the said wheel, anti-friction bearings for each of the said mandrels, a clamping 1 cent mandrels, a roller carried by each of said clamping arms, and a resiliently mounted track adapted to operate through the said rollers to force the said clamping arms into engagement with the said mandrels.

10. A feeding device for metal-working machines comprising a rotatably mounted wheel, a plurality of rotatable blank-holding mandrels equally spaced around the periphery of said wheel, clamping arms pivotally carried by said wheel adjacent to said mandrels, a socket member carried by each of said clamping arms and adapted to fit over the ad jacent mandrel, rollers carried by said clamping arms, pins slidably mounted in the said wheel adjacent to said clamping arms, a cam track mounted adjacent to the said wheel and adapted to operate the said pins to separate the said clamping arms and the said mandrels during a portion of the rotation of said wheel, and a resiliently mounted track adapted to operate through the said rollers to move-the said clamping arms into engagement with the said mandrels during another portion of the rotation of said wheel.

11. A feeding device for metal-working machlnes comprising a rotatably mounted wheel, a plurality of work-holding mandrels equally spaced around the periphery of said wheel, clamping arms pivotally carried by said wheel and adapted to co-o-perate with the said mandrels to secure blanks thereon, a grooved roller carried by each of said clamping arms, and a circularly curved cam track engaging the said grooved rollers and adapted to move each clamping arm toward and away from the adjacent mandrel as the said Wheel rotates.

12. A feeding device for metal-working machines comprising a rotatably mounted wheel, a plurality of anti-friction bearings equally spaced around the periphery of said wheel, blank-holding mandrels rotatably mounted in said bearings and projecting laterally from the face of said wheel, pins slidably carried by said wheel adjacent to said bearings, clamping arms pivotally carried by said wheel and adapted to co-operate with said mandrels to secure blanks thereon, each of said clamping arms carrying a rotatable socket member adapted to fit over the end of the adjacent mandrel, two rollers carried by each of said clamping arms, a resiliently mo-untd cam track adapted to operate through one set ofsaid rollers to force each clamping arm into engagement with the adjacent mandrel during a portion of the rotation of said wheel, a stationary cam track for causing the said pins to move the said clamping arms away from said mandrels during another portion of the rotation of said wheel, and a circularly curved cam track cooperating with the second set of rollers on the clamping arms in their movement toward and away from the mandrels.

13. In a mill for rolling thin disks-over the greater part of their area, the combination with a pair of cooperating and conically tapered rolls for reducing the thickness and increasing the diameter of circular disks, of means for supporting in a series and successively feeding disks to said rolls to be operated upon in the order of the series.

14. In a mill for rolling thin disks over the greater part of their area, the combination with a plurality of rolls for reducing the thickness and increasing the diameter of circular disks, of means for supporting in a se ries and successively feeding said disks to said rolls into position to be operated upon in the order of the series.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotating table adapted to support a blank to be rolled, a stud carried by said table, an arm pivoted to said table and having its free end adapted to cooperate with said stud whereby to secure a blank in position upon said table.

16. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element associated with a determinate workrotating axis, means supporting and centering a blank to be fed to the working element substantially in the plane of a blank being worked upon, guiding means for said supporting and centering means establishing a path of movement thereof toward and from axial coincidence of the centering means with the rotating axis, and means to rotate the blank rendered efi'ective through movement of the supporting and centering means to the position of axial coincidence.

17 An apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable working element associated wit-h a determinate workrotating axis, a blank support and means to releasably lock the blank. thereon, guiding means defining the path of movement for said blank support and locking means to and from a position of axial coincidence with said rotating axis, and means rendered effective through movement of said devices on their established path to operate the locking mean to release the blank.

18. A blank feeding device for disk rolling mills, comprising a work carrying apparatus having work centering means and movable into and out of a working position, and means for locking a blank upon and unlocking it from the Work carrier by virtue of the movement of the carrier into and out of working position.

19. A blank feeding device for disk rolling mills, comprising a work carrying apparatus having work centering means, and means dependent upon the carrier movement for automatically locking a blank upon and unlocking it from the work carrier.

20. A blank feeding device for disk rolling mills, comprising a work carrier having definite work loading and work operating positions, cam operated means for clamping work at the work operating position, and releasing the work after having been worked upon. 21. In a blank feeding device for disk rolling mills, a Work carrying apparatus, comprising a movable carrier, provided with a plurality of work centering means, clamping members on said carrier associated with said centering means and common means for op erating said clamping members to lock the work upon and unlock it from the carrier upon rotation of the carrier.

22. A blank feeding device for disk rolling MARTIN have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR MARTIN. 

